topic Are my disability attorney fees deductible? in Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Are my disability attorney fees deductible?

wogeorge — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:39:20 GMT

I received an SSA-1099 for the lump sum back pay. It shows my attorney fees as a deduction in Box 3 but does not deduct it from the net benefit in box 5. Is there another area to add this expense?

Re: Are my disability attorney fees deductible?

JamesG1 — Thu, 02 Feb 2023 00:34:09 GMT

You may deduct the attorney's fees included as part of your Social Security Disability Income. The Social Security SSA-1099 may display the attorney's fees but not deduct the amount from the net benefit in box 5.

Enter the adjustment in TurboTax Online as follows:

Down the left side of the screen, click Federal.
Down the left side of the screen, click Wages & Income.
Click Show more to the right of Less Common Income.
To the right of Miscellaneous Income, 1099-A, 1099-C, click the Start / Revisit button.
To the right of Other reportable income, click the Start / Revisit button.
At the screen Other Taxable Income, enter a description “Attorney's fees” and the attorney's fees as a negative amount.

The entry will be reported:

on line 8z of Schedule 1 of the Federal 1040 tax return, and
on line 8 of the Federal 1040 tax return.

Re: Are my disability attorney fees deductible?

Ern123 — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 18:44:22 GMT

what about VA disability attorney fees for back pay.

Re: Are my disability attorney fees deductible?

RobertB4444 — Sun, 26 Feb 2023 18:59:45 GMT

Because your VA disability benefits are not taxable the expenses to receive them are not deductible.

@Ern123